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evidently happened to the spectre； for the light had entirely faded
from its hollow eyes； the gleaming falchion had fallen from its
hand； and it was leaning up against the wall in a strained and
uncomfortable attitude。 He rushed forward and seized it in his
arms； when； to his horror； the head slipped off and rolled on the
floor； the body assumed a recumbent posture； and he found himself
clasping a white dimity bed…curtain； with a sweeping…brush； a
kitchen cleaver； and a hollow turnip lying at his feet！The
Canterville Ghost
THE GARDEN OF DEATH
'Far away beyond the pine…woods；' he answered； in a low dreamy
voice； 'there is a little garden。 There the grass grows long and
deep； there are the great white stars of the hemlock flower； there
the nightingale sings all night long。 All night long he sings； and
the cold； crystal moon looks down； and the yew…tree spreads out its
giant arms over the sleepers。'
Virginia's eyes grew dim with tears； and she hid her face in her
hands。
'You mean the Garden of Death；' she whispered。
'Yes； Death。 Death must be so beautiful。 To lie in the soft brown
earth； with the grasses waving above one's head； and listen to
silence。 To have no yesterday； and no to…morrow。 To forget time；
to forgive life； to be at peace。 You can help me。 You can open for
me the portals of Death's house； for Love is always with you； and
Love is stronger than Death is。'
Virginia trembled； a cold shudder ran through her； and for a few
moments there was silence。 She felt as if she was in a terrible
dream。
Then the Ghost spoke again； and his voice sounded like the sighing
of the wind。
'Have you ever read the old prophecy on the library window？'
'Oh； often；' cried the little girl； looking up； 'I know it quite
well。 It is painted in curious black letters； and it is difficult
to read。 There are only six lines：
When a golden girl can win
Prayer from out the lips of sin；
When the barren almond bears；
And a little child gives away its tears；
Then shall all the house be still
And peace come to Canterville。
But I don't know what they mean。'
'They mean；' he said sadly； 'that you must weep for me for my sins；
because I have no tears； and pray with me for my soul； because I
have no faith； and then； if you have always been sweet； and good；
and gentle； the Angel of Death will have mercy on me。 You will see
fearful shapes in darkness； and wicked voices will whisper in your
ear； but they will not harm you； for against the purity of a little
child the powers of Hell cannot prevail。'
Virginia made no answer； and the Ghost wrung his hands in wild
despair as he looked down at her bowed golden head。 Suddenly she
stood up； very pale； and with a strange light in her eyes。 'I am
not afraid；' she said firmly； 'and I will ask the Angel to have
mercy on you。'
He rose from his seat with a faint cry of joy； and taking her hand
bent over it with old…fashioned grace and kissed it。 His fingers
were as cold as ice； and his lips burned like fire； but Virginia did
not falter； as he led her across the dusky room。 On the faded green
tapestry were broidered little huntsmen。 They blew their tasselled
horns and with their tiny hands waved to her to go back。 'Go back！
little Virginia；' they cried； 'go back！' but the Ghost clutched her
hand more tightly； and she shut her eyes against them。 Horrible
animals with lizard tails； and goggle eyes； blinked at her from the
carven chimney…piece； and murmured 'Beware！ little Virginia； beware！
we may never see you again；' but the Ghost glided on more swiftly；
and Virginia did not listen。 When they reached the end of the room
he stopped； and muttered some words she could not understand。 She
opened her eyes； and saw the wall slowly fading away like a mist；
and a great black cavern in front of her。 A bitter cold wind swept
round them； and she felt something pulling at her dress。 'Quick；
quick；' cried the Ghost； 'or it will be too late；' and； in a moment；
the wainscoting had closed behind them； and the Tapestry Chamber was
empty。The Canterville Ghost
AN ETON KIT…CAT
〃Well；〃 said Erskine； lighting a cigarette； 〃I must begin by telling
you about Cyril Graham himself。 He and I were at the same house at
Eton。 I was a year or two older than he was； but we were immense
friends； and did all our work and all our play together。 There was；
of course； a good deal more play than work； but I cannot say that I
am sorry for that。 It is always an advantage not to have received a
sound commercial education； and what I learned in the playing fields
at Eton has been quite as useful to me as anything I was taught at
Cambridge。 I should tell you that Cyril's father and mother were
both dead。 They had been drowned in a horrible yachting accident
off the Isle of Wight。 His father had been in the diplomatic
service； and had married a daughter； the only daughter； in fact； of
old Lord Crediton； who became Cyril's guardian after the death of
his parents。 I don't think that Lord Crediton cared very much for
Cyril。 He had never really forgiven his daughter for marrying a man
who had not a title。 He was an extraordinary old aristocrat； who
swore like a costermonger； and had the manners of a farmer。 I
remember seeing him once on Speech…day。 He growled at me； gave me a
sovereign； and told me not to grow up 〃a damned Radical〃 like my
father。 Cyril had very little affection for him； and was only too
glad to spend most of his holidays with us in Scotland。 They never
really got on together at all。 Cyril thought him a bear； and he
thought Cyril effeminate。 He was effeminate； I suppose； in some
things； though he was a very good rider and a capital fencer。 In
fact he got the foils before he left Eton。 But he was very languid
in his manner； and not a little vain of his good looks； and had a
strong objection to football。 The two things that really gave him
pleasure were poetry and acting。 At Eton he was always dressing up
and reciting Shakespeare； and when he went up to Trinity he became a
member of the A。D。C。 his first term。 I remember I was always very
jealous of his acting。 I was absurdly devoted to him； I suppose
because we were so different in some things。 I was a rather
awkward； weakly lad； with huge feet； and horribly freckled。
Freckles run in Scotch families just as gout does in English
families。 Cyril used to say that of the two he preferred the gout；
but he always set an absurdly high value on personal appearance； and
once read a paper before our debating society to prove that it was
better to be good…looking than to be good。 He certainly was
wonderfully handsome。 People who did not like him； Philistines and
college tutors； and young men reading for the Church； used to say
that he was merely pretty； but there was a great deal more in his
face than mere prettiness。 I think he was the most splendid
creature I ever saw； and nothing could exceed the grace of his
movements； the charm of his manner。 He fascinated everybody who was
worth fascinating； and a great many people who were not。 He was
often wilful and petulant； and I used to think him dreadfully
insincere。 It was due； I think； chiefly to his inordinate desire to
please。 Poor Cyril！ I told him once that he was contented with
very cheap triumphs； but he only laughed。 He was horribly spoiled。
All charming people； I fancy； are spoiled。 It is the secret of
their attraction。
〃However； I must tell you about Cyril's acting。 You know that no
actresses are allowed to play at the A。D。C。 At least they were not
in my time。 I don't know how it is now。 Well； of course； Cyril was
always cast for the girls' parts； and when As You Like It was
produced he played Rosalind。 It was a marvellous performance。 In
fact； Cyril Graham was the only perfect Rosalind I have ever seen。
It would be impossible to describe to you the beauty； the delicacy；
the refinement of the whole thing。 It made an immense sensation；
and the horrid little theatre； as it was then； was crowded every
night。 Even when I read the play now I can't help thinking of
Cyril。 It might have been written for him。 The next term he took
his degree； and came to London to read for the diplomatic。 But he
never did any work。 He spent his days in reading Shakespeare's
Sonnets； and his evenings at the theatre。 He was； of course； wild
to go on the stage。 It was all that I and Lord Crediton could do to
prevent him。 Perhaps if he had gone on the stage he would be alive
now。 It is always a silly thing to give advice； but to give good
advice is absolutely fatal。 I hope you will never fall into that
error。 If you do； you will be sorry for it。〃The Portrait of Mr。
W。 H。
MRS。 ERLYNNE EXERCISES THE PREROGATIVE OF A GRANDMOTHER
Lady Windermere； before Heaven your husband is g